HAMMOND, Ind. — After leading two back-to-back seasons of consistent improvement for the Purdue University Calumet women’s volleyball team, Julie Wiejak has been named the Head Coach for the emerging Purdue University Northwest, as announced by Purdue Northwest Director of Athletics-Designate Rick Costello.
"Purdue Calumet volleyball has shown tremendous strides under the leadership of Julie Wiejak," Costello said. “Julie has unmatched enthusiasm and energy and a strong commitment to both academic and athletic success, and I look forward to her growing Purdue Northwest volleyball.”
Added Tom Albano, Purdue Northwest Associate Director of Compliance-Designate: “We are very excited for what women’s volleyball can be as Purdue Northwest. We have a group of very talented student-athletes coming together coupled with Julie’s energy and passion to succeed at this next level."
Wiejak became the sixth head volleyball coach in Purdue Calumet history prior to the 2014-15 season and made an almost immediate impact, leading the Peregrines to a then-school record 10 victories, doubling the team's win total from the previous year and shattering 17 other program records in the process. Those marks included kills (1,130), kills per set (10.00), attack percentage (.130), assists per set (9.27), service aces (180), block assists (231), digs (1,614), total blocks (141.5), and points per set (12.85).
The Peregrines broke that mark again in 2015-16, capturing 11 wins to give Wiejak 21 for her career — which gave the program more victories than it had in the previous four seasons combined. Purdue Calumet’s statistical percentages have continued to rise, as the Peregrines again set season records for total wins (11), kills (1,227), kills per set (10.67), attack percentage (.162), assists per set (9.89), service aces (235), service aces per set (2.04), block assists (248), digs (1,660), total block s (171) and points per set (14.20). The services aces mark ranked first in the CCAC.
In addition, 11 individual single-season records were broken since the program was reintroduced in 2010, led by two-time Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Second-Team selection Gabrielle Martin, who finished 2015 ranked 26th in the NAIA and first in the CCAC in total aces with 55.
While Purdue Calumet continued to improve on the court, the Peregrines showed growth outside of the gym under Wiejak by earning the CCAC”s Champions of Character Team award, as the volleyball team volunteered for countless community service projects, such as the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago’s Move for the Kids 5K/Walk Run and Purdue Calumet’s R-Dub Club, a reading-centered project in coordination with local Hammond elementary schools. The Peregrines also hosted its a “Pale is Love” game in 2015, a melanoma awareness event to help spread the dangers of ultraviolet ray exposure and how to prevent the disease.
In the classroom, Purdue Calumet has had two NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes, six CCAC All-Academic selections, three players on the school’s Dean’s List, and the squad was named an NAIA Scholar-Team in 2014-15 after recording a 3.13 team grade point average under Wiejak’s leadership.
"I am honored to be named the volleyball coach for Purdue Northwest," Wiejak said. "I'd like to thank Chancellor Keon and Chancellor Dworkin, as well as Rick Costello and Tom Albano for believing in me. I know that under their leadership, Purdue Northwest athletics will continue to thrive and I'm excited to show student-athletes what we have to offer.
"I look forward to making Purdue Northwest volleyball a powerhouse in the Midwest."
Prior to Purdue Calumet, Wiejak spent three seasons as head coach for Andrean High School, leading the 59ers to an impressive 85-22 record, including the program’s first two IHSAA Semi-State appearances. There, she coached seven all-conference selection, five all-area honorees and one NWI Times All-Area Player of the Year. Wiejak also served as the head coach of the St. Patrick’s (Ill.) boy’s volleyball coach in 2012 and 2013, leading the team within a game of the state tournament.
In addition to her high school coaching duties, Wiejak was active in the club volleyball ranks. She spent three years as the director of the Southshore Volleyball Club, while also serving the director of coaching development and fundraising for Powerhouse Sports Academy, the parent organization of SSVBC as well as Powerhouse VBC, Club 1 VBC, and Hardcross VBC.
Prior to her time at Andrean, Wiejak served as the top assistant for four seasons at her alma mater, NCAA Division I Loyola University. She worked primarily with the Ramblers’ middle blockers. Her coaching experience also includes a six-year stint as an assistant coach at DePaul. While in Lincoln Park, she involved with all aspects of the Blue Demons’ program, helping guide the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2001.
Wiejak was also the director of the Great Lakes Region High Performance Program, an extension of the governing body of USA Volleyball, coordinating camps and competitions while also handling the business and financial aspects of the program for the seven years it existed. In 2005, for her efforts within the USA Volleyball community, Wiejak was given the Robert L. Lindsay Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes individuals for contributing outstanding participation, motivation, and other services in the promotion of volleyball.
A member of the Positive Coaching Alliance, Wiejak was named one of organization’s the Top 50 Double Goal coaches in the nation. She was also nominated for Indiana’s 2011 AVCA National High School Coach of the Year, while being selected to the “Top 20 under the age of 40” class of 2012 by Northwest Indiana Times Business Magazine.
Wiejak had an impressive career at Loyola as a middle blocker, racking up 678 kills and 297 total blocks. She set a single-season record with 135 blocks as a junior, before notching notching 342 kills and 125 blocks en route to First Team All-MCC and MCC Tournament MVP honors as a senior. The Bishop Noll product led the Ramblers to the 1999 MCC title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The Chicago native earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing from Loyola in 2001. She went on to obtain a master’s degree in business communications from DePaul in 2006.
